By Bob Allen
Southern Baptist Convention official Russell Moore joined other faith leaders Nov. 13 in a meeting with President Obama, Vice President Biden and senior administration officials to discuss action toward common-sense immigration reform.
Moore, president of the SBC Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, joined six other religious leaders in the Oval Office, including Leith Anderson of the National Council of Evangelicals, Joel Hunter of Northland Church in Orlando, Fla., and Jim Wallis of Sojourners, according to a readout of the meeting released by the White House.
White House officials said the invitees “are an important part of the broad array of stakeholders who support reform.”
“The leaders expressed their concerns over the impact the broken immigration system is having on families throughout their congregations,” according to the White House release. “The president and the leaders discussed their shared commitment to raise the moral imperative for immigration reform and said they will continue keeping the pressure on Congress so they can swiftly pass common-sense reform.”
The readout said Obama “commended the faith leaders for their tireless efforts in sharing their stories with Congress” and “noted there is no reason for House Republicans to continue to delay action on this issue that has garnered bipartisan support.”
“It would show the American people that Washington can still work together to solve our nation’s challenges,” the readout said. “The faith leaders thanked the president for his continued leadership on the issue and offered prayers that we as a nation would achieve these important goals.”
Administration officials in the meeting included Melissa Rogers, a lifelong Baptist who serves as executive director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.